Concerning individual Bahá’ís’ letters to the Guardian and his replies;
the friends are free to write to the Guardian when they feel the urge to
do so. However, for the believers to suppose that the Guardian’s letters
to them, however full of loving encouragement they may be, give them any
special powers or authority to go against or ignore the wishes of their
local or national assembly, is to grossly misinterpret his true meaning.
The Guardian has been at great pains to build up the administrative order
and teach the friends how to use it. How could he possibly himself act in
such a way as to ignore or belittle the functions of these bodies? He
often encourages believers to work, to teach, to pursue some plan they
propose in their letters to him but this does not mean a veto of the
assembly’s rights, or that the individual thus becomes free to ignore its
authority. He trusts this will make the matter quite plain to the friends.
Regarding the matter of Mother Dunn’s letter; the N.S.A., will, he feels
sure, do all in their power to allay the fears of Mother Dunn and smooth
out any misunderstandings that may arise. He feels, however, that you
should point out to Mother Dunn that if, at any future date, the believers
of Australia and New Zealand should wish to remove the remains of Father
Dunn and herself to a beautiful site in a Bahá’í cemetery, or any other
chosen spot, they cannot do it without some legal authorization. Just at
present, after an infinite amount of red tape being gotten through, the
Egyptian N.S.A. has at last succeeded in getting arrangements made for the
transfer of Lua Getsinger’s and Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl’s bodies to the new
Bahá’í Cemetery. It is to ensure success and save trouble in the future,
that your assembly is asking her to delegate certain powers to it in this
matter. He feels sure she will cooperate fully when she understands the
matter.
In view of the criticalness of the times, the great issues facing the
entire human race, and the uncertainty of what perils and trials may yet
remain ahead of us to be endured, the Guardian feels, that the sooner
Father Dunn’s memorial is erected the better. Mother Dunn may rest assured
in her heart that future believers of Australia will know how to honour
and cherish dear Father Dunn’s grave; for the time being, though, it seems
to him, it would be wise to complete whatever arrangements are under way
as speedily as possible, subject, of course, to her acceptance, as he does
not want her to be distressed or unhappy over this matter.
The Guardian would be very glad to receive as soon as possible photographs
of Father Dunn’s grave upon its completion, to be placed in the Mansion of
Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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